Good Story Narrated like a Mount Pleasant Episode

This is a hard one to review for me as first of all I found the two narrators so very similar it was only after a few chapters that I managed to distinguish between them as I began to find the actor voicing Rachel very irritating and they both gave what sounded to me like an almost comedic read somewhere in between the TV Series Mount Pleasant and a Victoria Wood Sketch.
The last book I read was a bit dark for me but this one I felt was trivialised by the narrators who I felt, while very talented were just miscast and I could not take them seriously despite the excellent plot and meaty topics.
I found myself instead of relaxing into the read, fighting against it and imagining it read by one of the very many excellent narrators I have enjoyed on Audible books who have more gravitas and bring more atmosphere and suspense to a thriller like this. I suppose to me it just felt like the whole thing was read very much tongue in cheek and although there were some lighthearted stream of consciences from both characters for me it was a good thriller spoiled by turning both main characters into figures of fun who I could not take seriously.
However, horses for courses and I suppose this does work as a lighthearted, soap style romp and as such the narrators did do an excellent and rousing job of it embracing their roles with gusto. I just wish I had read instead of listened to this so I could have made up my own mind if it was lighthearted or now without such strong narration which at times was pure pantomime and as such a bit of a waste of a great thriller. Was a bit puzzled why "towards" was always shortened to "toward" as per American English and that did jar but otherwise excellent.
I also really loved the way the book handled the crimes in a sensitive way as and I felt it hit just the right note of not trivialising the gravity of it, or being clumsy or heavy handed with what is a hot topic for many and yet not diving to deep to make it all dark and heavy going. This is a tricky line to walk and I think this was done with great flair
I overall I liked the way this book was written and it clipped along with plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep you guessing. I dd not care for Rachel (Smug Mum) or Susie (Gullible, Reluctant Singleton). I do not even know why these two were pals as even they did not seem to care for each other much. I would have loved if the Event Management business was more explored as enjoyed the snippets of the project they were tackling as well as their many other trials and tribulations.
The plot was a good one and I did not guess the ending until it all began to reveal itself. I thought the ending was good and though unlikely was vaguely plausible and the book finished in a strong way, instead of fizzling out like so many thrillers.
I did enjoy it and think if it had two narrators who, first of all were more easy to differentiate between and secondly brought more mystery and suspense to it like Deryn Edwards, Elizabeth Knowelden, Caroline Lennon, Stephanie Racine, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Emilia Fox, Gabrielle Glaister, Gabrielle Baker, Imogen Church to name but a few of a huge wealth of excellent talent who I think would have done this book justice.
Perhaps it could be recorded again as some Audio books are to give a more thrilling and suspenseful dramatic read.
My advice would be to listen to the sample and see if these narrators are for you otherwise, do the book and yourself a favour and read it rather than listen to this version of it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful